Nut for stringed musical instruments



lll llll Il llll M. MACCAFERRI NUT FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Dec.29, 1953 Original Filed March l5, 1950 Patented Dec. 29, 1953 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE NUT FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS MarioMaccaferri, Rye, N. Y., assignorvto French American Reeds ManufacturingCo., Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York 1 Claim. 1

My present invention is directed to certain improvements in nuts forstringed musical instruments, and more specicially to an improvedarrangement of a string dividing nut and rst fret for such instruments;and the nature and objects of the invention will be readily recognizedand understood by those skilled in the musical instrument art in thelight of the iollowing explanation and detailed description of theaccompanying drawings illustrating what l now believe to be thepreferred embodiments or mechanical and functional expressions of theinvention from among various other forms, e2".- pressions,modiiications, constructions and combinations of which the invention iscapable within the broad spirit and scope thereof as denned by the claimhereto appended.

This application is led as a division of my copending application SerialNo. 149,741, filed March 15, 1950, for Stringed Musical instrun ments,now Patent No. 2,597,154 dated May 20, 1952.

The invention is concerned with those types of musical instrumentscharacterized by a resonant body or bell having a fretted nger boardmounting neck extending therefrom and terminating at its outer end in ahead for mounting therein a plurality of string adjusting and tuningkeys. Such types of instruments also include spaced strings secured tothe head mounted keys and extended therefrom inwardly along and over thelinger board and the frets thereon to a bridge member, anchor or thelike on the body or bell of the instrument with a socalled nut or stringdivider or spaced disposed transversely across the nnger board at theouter or head end thereof for receiving and positioning the strings.More specincally my invention is concerned with such instruments whenformed of plastic materials, such as an instrument of my aboveidentified copending application, or such an instrument having thefinger board thereof formed of plastic, although my invention is notlimited to instruments, or the nnger boards thereof, formed of anyparticular material or materials.

With such stringed musical instruments as heretofore generally designedand constructed, usually of Wood, a string divider is secured across theouter end of the iinger board at or adjacent the inner end of the headand this string divider is required to function also as the rst fret ofthe nger board. Such a string divider, usuall made of wood, and with thestrings of necessity in very tight engagement therewith and thereacross,tends to create a difference in the note produced by a string over thenote produced by the string from any of the other frets of the ngerboard, which other frets are usually formed of metal or the likematerial strips or bars inset in and across the nger board.

It is a general object of my invention to eliminate the disadvantages ofsuch a string divider and fret arrangement; and in carrying out suchobject the invention provides a iirst or outer end fret on the fingerboard as solely a fret similar to and formed of the same material as theremaining frets on the nger board, with a separate string dividerfunctioning solely or primarily as such immediately adjacent to the rstfret.

Another object is to provide an improved rst fret and string dividercombination for a fretted finger board formed of a plastic material.

A further object is to provide a nrst fret and string dividerarrangement for a fretted ringer board of a stringed musical instrumentin which the first fret is engaged by the strings and holds the stringsnormally out of engagement with the remaining series of frets While thestring divider maintains the strings properly spaced Without interferingwith the quality of the musical notes produced by the strings.

And a further object is to provide a design and construction of rst fretand string divider which lends itself readily to formation vby injectionmolding from a thermoplastic material as components of a fretted lingerboard and neck for a stringed musical instrument.

With ythe foregoing and various other objects which will be readilyrecognized from the following detailed description and explanation, myinvention consists in certain novel features in design and inconstruction and combinations of parts, all as will be more fullyreferred to and specied hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar referencecharacters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several guresthereof:

Fig. 1 is a view in top plan of a stringed musical instrument of theukulele type having a retted iinger board incorporating the iirst fretand string divider embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View through the neck and frettednger board of the instrument of Fig. l, taken as on the line 2--2 oiFig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view through the rst fret and stringdivider of the form or the invention of Figs. 1 and 2, showing theposition `component of polystyrene plastic. comprises lthe -bottom wall.i5 and the .opposite assumed by the strings of the instrument relativeto the string divider and first fret.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section through the neck and the string divider,taken as on the line li-li of Fig. l.

I have selected and illustrated and described herein, purely by way ofexample and not in all respects by way of limitation, a stringed musicalinstrument of the ukulele type formed of a moldable thermoplasticmaterial having a fretted finger board incorporating an embodiment offirst fret and string divider of the invention. However, arrangementsyof a first fret and string divider in accordance with the invention arenot limited to use in stringed instruments of the ukulele type or toinstruments formed off a .there moplastic material, as the invention isadapted to and intended for use generally with stringed musicalinstruments utilizing fretted finger boards.

Referring now to the drawings, the .example instrument in the form .of aukulele is ,comprised of a hollow body or bell B having a sounding boardS over and closing the upper side thereof. The

sounding board S is Aformed with a sound Aopening E therethrough. A neckN .extends from .one .end of the body B .and terminates Vat its .outer.end in a tuning key mounting head H. A fretted linger board F ismounted on and over the neck N and .extends between the inner .end of ahead H vand the adjacent end `of 'body B and sounding board S. A coverplate C is in this instance mounted on and covers the -upper -side ,ofhead H. A bridge D is secured in transversely disposed position on the`outer side yof a sounding hoard ,S between the outer end of body B andthe sound opening In the ukulele type of stringed .instrument four (fi)strings are usually provided, as in the instant example, and four .(4)string .tuning keys Gi, .C1-2,

G3 and .G6 are journaled and .extend trans- ,f

versely through head H and :the .coi/ er plate C to which are attached.the .ends of the strings i, 2, 3 and il, respectively. Such strings maybe of any material suitable for the purpose, Aalthough in the presentexample l.they may be .considered to y be of a suitable plastic such asnylon.

The strings i, 2, .3 and s are stretched from the tuning keys insomewhat parallel relation inwardly across the finger board F, Ysoundingbeard S and the sound .opening E therein, to the bridge D to which they.are .attached and secured in spaced relation, rvas will be .clear byreference to Fig. 1. The strings I, 2, .3 :and 4 are stretched betweenthe tuning keys and bridge D :under tension, which tension `may belvaried by .the `rotatable keys to thereby tune'the strings.

The body E, the neck N and Athe head H are formed as a unitary,one-piece, injection molded The neck N side walls it, so shaped andintegrally joined as to form this component of generally U-shape incross section throughout the major portion of its length, with the outeror upper side thereof open.

The head H of this one-piece, molded component is integral with neck Nand extends outwardly in continuation thereof but is disposed angularlyrelative to the general plane of neck N ina direction inwardly from theouter side of the instrument. Head H includes a bottom wall it' incontinuation of bottom wall l5 of neck N, and .opposits side walls i8 incontinuation of the opposite side walls I6 of the neck. Head H is openat the outer side of the instrument but the side walls i8 at the outerend thereof are joined .by

an end wall lBa extending therebetween and transversely thereacross.

The nger board F of this example is molded of polystyrene to form theelongated plate or strip 3,5 having the depending flanges 3i alongopposite longitudinal sides thereof but spaced a distance ,inwardly fromthe outer longitudinal edges of strip Sil, so as to provide the oppositeshoulders 34e, The finger board so formed is mounted on and over neck Nwith the flanges 3i extending into the neck between and forming a snugflt with the inner surfaces of the opposite side walls I6 of rthe neckand with shoulders Sia seating upon the upper or outer edges of neckside walls i6. -The finger board plate or base 33 is cemented andsecured assembled position on and completely over and closing the outerside of neck N, with the inner end 33a of the plate projected a distancebeyond the adjacent ends of flanges Sla to extend over onto the upperside of sounding board S for cementing thereto.

The finger board F includes the series of transversely disposed,parallel frets 35 thereon fand thereacross, the frets being spacedprogressively increasing distances .apart `outwardly ,along the fingerboard in the established manner for lfretted finger boards of such typesof musical instruments :In the present example the frets 3,5 are eachformed of a metallic plastic over-molded on and bonded to the yfingerboard to form jin effect nxed ,and permanent components ,of the fingerboard.

By my present invention the ,outermost inetallic plastic fret '35 offingerboard F `is located at or immediately adjacent the outer end ofthe `base member .3Q .of the fingerboard and a ,Septrate string dividerin the form Aof a plastic strip .or bar Si is attached in position`against and across the .outer end of the finger board in Ypositionparallel with and in immediate proximity to fret 3.5'. This .dividerstrip 3l in the instant example occupies a space provided between theadjacent .ends .of the finger board and the cover plate C. String.divider 'el .extends upwardly ,-a .distance above the outer vsurface offinger board F and a plane passing `through the outer edge surfaces ofthe frets 35 and first fret 31,5, String divider 3i is provided `withproperly spaced transverse slots Sla across the outer `or upper edgeportion thereof and these slots extend a distance into the divider toprovide a depth therefor to receive. vand -retain the strings. in properspaced relation elevated .above and .out of contact with the .divider,at the inner ends of the slots as the strings .extend across and `incontact with the outer end or so-called first fret 3,5" to the tuningkeys. The bridge D is so dimensioned and positioned on sounding board 1Brelaztte to the rst fret 35 andthe remaining frets 35 on finger board F,that the strings i, 2, 3 and when in playing condition under tension.stretched between the `bridge and the keys GI, G2, G'and G4, areengaged over only the fret .35 held lout of .contact lwith the remainingfrets 35. The fret 35 is thus relieved of yany duty to function .todivide and maintain the spacing .between .the springs and is left vfreeto function solely Ias the first fret of the nger board. he 4,divider.Ziff i,s, however, positioned immediately adjacent @hereto but at theouter side thereof so that there is no interference with the strings ator inwardly of the fret 35 by this first fret being forced .to Yalsoserve as a string divider and spacer,

In this manner the .string divider functions solely, or primarily, as adivider and the frbst fret 35 in immediate proximity thereto is providedto function solely as a fret. I thus obtain for the first fret 35 thefull advantages of the characteristics of this fret in obtaining theproper tone or note from any one of the strings I, 2, 3 and 4 which maybe vibrated or played by a player whether the string is stopped or isunstopped. While preferably, as in the form of the invention of theselected embodiment hereof, the divider 31 is so positioned relative tothe first fret 35' and has the slots 31a thereof of such a depth thatthe strings do not have bearing engagement under tension on the dividerat the bottom of the slots, yet it is recognized that the strings, orany of them may have contact engagement at the lower ends of the slotsif the primary bearing and tensioning engagement remains on the firstfret. By thus providing the slots 31a of a depth such that the stringsclear and are out of engagement with the divider at the inner ends ofthe slots, the strings extend in straight paths directly from the keysGl, G2, G3 and G4, to and in engagement with and across the first fret35 without interruption to the normal angle of inclination of thestrings. Similarly, where the divider slots 31a have a depth such thatthe strings may have contact with the divider at the inner ends of theslots, the surfaces at the slot inner ends may have an angle ofinclination, or be otherwise formed so as to not interrupt or break thenormal angle or straight line path of the strings from the keys to thefirst fret.

In the example embodiment the string divider 31 happens to be in theform of a separate element suitably secured in position on the neck Nbetween the finger board F and the head cover C. Obviously, however, andespecially where, as in this example, the finger board F and the cover Care formed of a molded thermoplastic, the string divider may be moldedas an integral outer end portion of the nger board, or may be molded asan integral inner end portion of the cover plate C.

It will further be evident that various other i changes, modifications,additions, eliminations and substitutions might be resorted to withoutdeparting from the broad spirit and scope of my invention, and hence,except as may be required by intended specic limitation thereto in theappended claim, I do not desire to limit my invention in all respects tothe specific example hereof.

What I claim is:

In a stringed musical instrument, in combination, a hollow resonant bodyhaving a sounding 6 board over and closing the top side thereof; a neckmember extending from one end of said body; a head member at the outerend of said neck member; string tuning keys mounted on said head member;a ngerboard on the top side of said neck member in position extendingthereon between said head member and said body; a string divider inposition disposed transversely across said neck between said fingerboardand said head member; said string divider having transverse, spacedplaying string receiving slots therein; said fingerboard being providedwith a series of frets thereon, including a first fret, with each fretof said series of frets including said rst fret being formed ofidentical material and characteristics disposed on said fingerboardtransversely across the outer side thereof in positions spaced aparttherealong between said string divider and said body; said rst fret ofsaid series of frets being positioned at the outer end of saidfingerboard disposed transversely thereacross at and substantiallyagainst and along the inner side of said string divider; a bridge memberon and extending a distance outwardly from the outer side of saidsounding board; said bridge member providing a playing string contactsurface across the outer side thereof; playing strings attached at theiropposite ends to said bridge member and said tuning keys, respectively;said playing strings being adapted to be extended under tension fromsaid tuning keys through the slots in said string divider to said bridgemember and being supported between the said tuning keys and bridgemember solely on said first fret and on said string contact surface onsaid bridge member; and said string contact surface of said bridgemember being positioned a distance outwardly from said sounding board tomaintain said playing strings normally spaced outwardly a distance fromand out of contact with the frets of said series of frets between saidfirst fret of said series or" frets on which said strings are supportedand the said body.

MARIO MACCAFERRI.

References Cited in the file 0f this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 455,221 Lorang June 30, 1891 1,237,872 Crow Aug. 2l, 19172,270,612 Williams Jan. 20,1942

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 661,267 France July 23, 1929

